Closer Monkey

Category: houston astros

  • Jake McGee out for the year; Glen Perkins out for five more days

    August 21, 2015 Tampa Bay Rays — Sometimes-closer Jake McGee has a torn meniscus and will miss the rest of the season after knee surgery. Xavier Cedeno and Steve Geltz will be Tampa’s next line of defense behind a shaky but secure Brad Boxberger (four blown saves, nine losses). Updated hierarchy: Boxberger | Cedeno | Geltz. Minnesota Twins – Glen Perkins received a cortisone shot…

  • Jonathan Broxton impressing in St. Louis; Will Harris grabs a save

    August 7, 2015 St. Louis Cardinals — Normally, managers tend to avoid using relief pitchers with ERAs north of 5.00. But they also tend to use pitchers with that invaluable “closing experience,” no matter how well (or poorly) they’re pitching. Jonathan Broxton fits into both categories, and he’s been used in high-leverage situations since he joined the first-place Cardinals…

  • Luke Gregerson protects lead and gets…a win?

    July 2, 2015 Houston Astros — Trivia question: When a relief pitcher (Luke Gregerson) enters the game in the 9th inning with his team up by one and retires the first three batters he sees (like he did last night) what does he earn? If you said “save” you’d be right…except if you were in…

  • Brad Boxberger the man in Tampa; Rafael Betancourt back in Colorado

    June 27, 2015 Colorado Rockies — Rafael Betancourt was activated from the disabled list and immediately pitched the seventh inning in a close game. He will immediately return to high-leverage setup work in front of John Axford, and should soon be considered for vulture save work. Updated hierarchy: Axford | Betancourt | Logan. Tampa Bay Rays — After yet another…

  • Trevor Rosenthal remains day-to-day; Bobby Parnell is back

    June 17, 2015 St. Louis Cardinals – Trevor Rosenthal was held out once again because of tightness in his pitching arm, meaning Kevin Siegrist grabbed another save. Rosenthal remains day-to-day and said after the game that he’s feeling better, while manager Mike Matheny said that a DL stint is not part of the plan. That’s good…